Wednesday, January 01, 2014

Well, if you're like me, you're probably wondering where the holidays went and how can it be possible that the kids return to school next week? Our break from school and schedules was wonderful. We had a relaxing, quiet Christmas at home. We survived some cold temperatures and hunkered down in front of the fire most nights and stayed up late, and slept in late as well ;-)

As my mind thinks back on the last year, and looks ahead to the coming one, I have a few resolutions I thought I'd share...here they are in no particular order:

1. Get back to riding.

Since a week or so before the girls started school, I can count on one hand the number I've times I've been out too ride. I miss my horses so much! And they are all just standing around, getting fat hay bellies and letting their muscles atrophy! My arena looks like a pasture and will take some dedicated dragging, weed killing, and working over to get in shape to ride again. I'm not setting up any other goals for myself other than getting back in the routine of riding two or three of them 3-4 times a week. We'll see where I am in a few months and then maybe I'll readjust. I just want to get back to jumping and training again (and maybe some selling of a few of them before the year is over)!

2. Institute once a week family meal.

Okay, I will admit that we don't sit down at the table to eat as a family every night. And we really never have. With Jason's schedule, it was always easier to make the kids' food, feed them, get them ready for bed, and then eat with (or without) Jason later on. But our girls aren't getting any younger and with ballet and riding schedules competing for our time, I know we need some time to connect. I was really inspired by something I saw on Pinterest which I thought would make the whole thing a lot of fun.

Just click on the link to go to this woman's blog. She has created a pdf you can download and print out with conversation starters to use at family dinner nights. Put them in a jar and let one person pull out a "starter" each meal. I thought it was cute and would be easy enough to add my own, should I be so creative, as time goes on.

3. Keep a thankful jar.

Well, at least that's what I'm calling it! On the heels of family meal time, this seemed another good "jar idea". This time the inspiration came on Facebook...the picture explains it well:

4. Organize!

If you've seen my Pinterest feed over the last few days, you'll see I'm researching different ways to organize some aspects of our family life. I think I've narrowed it down to a few options. Now I just need to implement! This lady has a TON of organization ideas on her Etsy site:

5. This little blog o'mine.

I want to post more regularly. I know I've said that before and I've done good and not so good jobs of keeping up with it. But this is my baby book, my family yearbook and keeper of our memories. I want to be more dilligent at remembering life while the girls are still young. Goodness knows we missed out on several years already with two of them. So, I'm going to try and make a few posts a week. It may not be exciting but it will be about our kids (mostly) and what's going on with them and the horses and the farm. And that's what I want to remember!

6. Get my Christmas cards sent.

And by Christmas card - I mean the picture from December 2012 that I didn't get sent out, and the picture from December 2013 that I need to send out, both before December 2014 rolls around!

7. Remember what is most important.

We are so blessed and thankful for our church, Countryside Bible Church. Pastor Tom Pennington, the elders, and the deacons and members have been so influential in our lives. They keep pointing us toward Christ and as this new year commences, I know and have already been reminded, that we will face many challenges and trials this year; in addition to many blessings. Remembering who is sovereign and having a Godly response to whatever circumstance God ordains to lay before me is what I strive to do.

I was reminded today of Philippians 1:27-28 "Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents."

Another verse that has been at the forefront of my mind lately is Colossians 1:9-12 "For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthend with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light."